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Kindergarten Leads to Higher Crime Rates

Does kindergarten lead to a life of crime? According to one legislator, the answer is yes. No matter what side of the political aisle you're on, this is the kind of story that will likely leave you shaking your head.

It seems that New Hampshire state representative Bob Kingsbury (R) believes that kindergarten leads to higher crime rates. He also claims to have been working on this theory since 1996.

During a county convention meeting last week convened to discuss hiring a consultant to help design a new jail, state representatives from Laconia espoused theories about what has contributed to an apparent growth in crime in the county.

Representative Kingsbury noted a direct link between the "proliferation" of kindergarten and the increasing inmate population at the Belknap County jail. According to Kingsbury, he analyzed crime rates and compared them to a list of communities that offered public kindergarten. He found that those that offered kindergarten had the highest rates of crime compared to the towns that do not, whose crime rates were lower.

Although he wrote all of his state representatives informing them of his research, the state legislature has joined with the other 49 states in mandating public kindergarten. "And we have more crime today," he said.

In addition, Kingsbury linked the rise of crime to the decline of gun ownership and to fact that boxing is no longer taught in school or offered as a sport.

What do you think about his theories? Do you think they hold water or that he's just nuts? We'd love to hear your thoughts. Sound off in the comments!